Retaining device for shoe-laces.



A-. H. COHEN.

RETAINING DEVICE FOR SHOE LACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1914.

1,126,399, Patented Jan.25,1915.

1 llll lll THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTO-LITHCL, \VASHING rUN, D. c.

ANNIE HELEN COHEN, OF NEVT YORK, N. Y.

RETAINING- DEVICE FOR SHOE-LACES.

Application filed May 16, 1914.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANNIE HELEN COHEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Retaining Device for Shoe-Laces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved retaining device for use on laced shoes, and arranged to securely hold the end portions and tips of the lace securely in place, at the same time dispensing with tying the lace ends into bows or knots and preventing accidental untying or loosening of the shoe lace.

In order to accomplish the desired result use is made of a pair of retaining devices attached to the upper ends of the shoe flaps, each retaining device being in the form of a fixed spool around which a lace end and its flexible tip is wound, and means for holding the wound-up lace end and its tip in wound position on the said spool.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved retaining device as applied to a shoe flap; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the up per portion of a shoe provided with a pair of retaining devices for the end portions of the shoe lace and the flexible tips thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged edge view of the same with the shoe flap in section; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the same; Fig. 5 is a rear face view of the same with the prongs in position prior to clenching; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the retaining device.

The shoe A on which the retaining device is used is provided with the usual flaps B, B adapted to be fastened together by the usual shoe lace 0 provided at its ends with fleXible tips D, the shoe lace C passing through the usual. eyelets (not shown) in the lower portions of the flaps B, B and around the stud E in the upper portions of the shoe flaps. The lace ends and the flexible tips after leaving the uppermost studs E are engaged with two retaining devices F in the form of spools attached to the upper ends of the flaps B, B. Each spool consists of a back Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, lt ifi.

Serial No. 838,989.

flange F, a front flange F and a connecting core F 3 connecting the flanges F and F centrally with each other, and from the peripheral edge of the back flange F extend prongs F 4 adapted to be passed through the corresponding flap B to be clenched at the inner side thereof, as plainly indicated in Figs. 3 and 41, so as to securely hold the laceretaining device in position on the upper end of the corresponding flap B. After the shoe is laced the ends of the lace are wound around the cores F of the two spools so as to hold the lace ends in place and thus keep the flap B in closed position.

In order to prevent accidental unwinding of the wound-up lace ends and tips, use is made of a holder G which is approximately semi-circular, in form, and attached to each spool and adapted to fit between the flanges F and F 2 at the rear portions thereof, the lower end of the holder G being provided with a knob or a handle G and the upper end of the holder being connected by a hinge H with the top of the rear flange F of the spool. The holder G is made of steel or other resilient material to permit of springing it conveniently between the flaps F, F or out of position to allow of swinging it upward into open position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to permit convenient winding of the shoe lace end around the core F of the corresponding spool F. After this has been done the holder G is swung downward and sprung in between the flanges F, F so as to engage the outermost convolution of the wound-up lace end as well as the flexible tip D (see Fig. 6) to hold the same in place and thus prevent the lace ends from becoming accidentally detached from the retaining devices. The terminal edge G of the holder G is preferably notched to take a good hold on the shoe lace C at its entrance to the corresponding retaining oevice (see Fig. 6).

The retaining device for the shoe lace shown and described is very simple in construction and can be readily applied to laced shoes as now constructed. In using the retaining devices F the holders G are first swung upward into open position to allow of readily winding the lace ends around the spools, and then the holders G are swung downward and sprung in between the flanges F and F to hold. the wound-up lace ends and the flexible tip in position.

A spring catch I is preferably formed on the top of the holder G at the front edge thereof and this catch is adapted to engage a lug 1 formed on the top of the front flange F of the spool to lock the holder G in place after being moved into closed position.

It is understood that when opening the holder G, the operator takes hold of the handle G and presses the same rearwardly so as to move the holder out from between the flanges F, F, after which the operator can swing the holder Gr upward into open position, the" operator pressing the catch 1 out of engagement with the lugI.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1'. A lace-retaining device adapted for attachment to the upper end of a shoe flap, said device being in the form of a spool, around whose core a lace end may be wound, and a holder for the wound-up lace end, attached to the periphery of the spool and extending part way-around the same, as described. I

2. A lace-retaining device comprising a spool-like body on which a lace may be wound and an approximately semi-cylindrical retaining member hinged on said spool and adapted to fit peripherally between the flanges thereof, to hold the lace convolutions and tips in wound position on the spool.

33. A lace-retaining device for shoe laces comprising a spool-like body and a segmental retaining member which is hinged to the back flange of the spool, having a catch which secures the said retaining Vmember detachably to the front flange of the spool, when the retaining member is in normal binding position.

i. A lace-retaining device comprising a spool-like body and a lace holder which is approximately semi-cylindrical in form and hinged to the back flange of the spool and extending part way around the periphery of the spool, such lace holder being constructed of spring material, as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANNIE HELEN COHEN.

Nitnesses HENRY H. COHEN, THEO. Gr. Hos'rnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C. 

